Tenderness § Warmth § Errythema § Swelling § Purulent discharge § Drainage § Increased pain Surgical Site Infection Cont. Non-infected Infected Surgical Site Infection Cont. § Make sure all appropriate doses of antibiotics are given post-op § Monitor vital signs, watch lab work § Good nutrition, use of supplements if needed Surgical Site Infection Cont. § Monitor blood glucose in diabetic patients § Incision care § Educate patients Surgical Site Infection Cont. HAND HYGEINE COMPLIANCE!!! Compartment Syndrome A condition in which there is increased pressure in a closed compartment preventing blood flow and oxygen from reaching muscles and nerves causing damage. Compartment Syndrome Cont. If not identified and treated immediately § Permanent nerve damage § Tissue necrosis § Muscle death § Amputationt of injury § Pain reduction by giving support to a joint § Immobilizer § Rehabilitative knee brace Orthopaedic nurses’ attitudes towards clinical nursing research - A cross-sectional survey SUMMARY The call for evidence-based knowledge in clinical nursing practice has increased during recent decades and research in orthopaedic nursing is needed to improve patients’ conditions, care and treatment. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted to determine the self-perceived theoretical knowledge and practical research competencies among orthopaedic nurses, and their interest and motivation to increase these in everyday practice. A newly developed questionnaire was given to a convenient sample of 87 orthopaedic nurses. 43 orthopaedic nurses (49.4%) completed the questionnaire. The results indicated that despite the majority of orthopaedic nurses having low self-perceived theoretical knowledge and practical research competencies, their interest and motivation to improve these were high especially their inner motivation. However, the nurses’ inner motivation was inhibited by a lack of acceptance from colleagues and head section nurses and a shortage of time. This study forms a baseline study as a part of a larger study and contributes with knowledge useful to other orthopaedic departments with an interest in optimizing nursing research to improve the orthopaedic nursing care quality. Keywords: Orthopaedic nurses; Nursing research; Cross-sectional survey; Research interest; Research knowledge; Research motivation. INTRODUCTION During recent decades, awareness of evidence-based practice has increased in nursing and the need for practice-based research has been well documented (Higgins et al., 2010). Evidence-based practice was introduced and recommended in health policies in 1992 and derived through the basis of evidence-based medicine to increase the best practice for patient care and treatment (Carlson & Plonczynski, 2008). Evidence-based practice has been characterized through various discourses. However, there is general agreement that practitioners should ensure that people receive care based on the best possible evidence (Rycroft-Malone et al., 2004). In Denmark the majority of nursing research studies are performed by Researchers at Universities. However, the interest and motivation for conducting nursing research in the clinical areas of primary and secondary care has grown over the years. This raises a need for involving non-academic nurses in clinical research (Poulsen et al., 2013), since it is well known that the clinical nurses’ involvement in developmental and research projects and implementation of results creates impact and clinical relevance (Granger, 2001; Gurzick & Kesten, 2010). Evidence-based practise is needed to improve orthopaedic patients’ care and treatment (Waters & Moran, 2006). To use and produce this evidence, orthopaedic nurses (hereafter: nurses) with research skills and interest are needed. Since 2000, Danish nurses have been specifically trained to utilize national and international research in nursing care and to conduct and participate in research within the context of health care during their undergraduate training (Poulsen et al., 2013). Despite some nurses having bachelor degrees